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Equal Rights for Fathers
THE shocking cost to our communities of fatherless families is revealed today. Around 100 children lose some or all contact with their dads EVERY DAY thanks to cruel and unfair laws which govern family breakdowns. The Sun, backing Sir Bob Geldof, is campaigning for a change in the law to give both parents equal rights of access. And we have been contacted by hundreds of deprived dads whose corner we are fighting. A survey by the Civitas Think Tank found that fatherless families cause a rise in crime and violence and more dependence on welfare. It said children living without their biological dads are more likely to live in poverty and deprivation and to get in trouble at school. They have a higher risk of health problems and of suffering physical, emotional or sexual abuse and are more likely to run away from home. Teenagers living without their biological fathers are more likely to commit crime, smoke, drink alcohol and take drugs, to play truant and to leave school at 16. Young adults who grew up without their fathers are less likely to have qualifications or jobs. They are more likely to have low incomes, be homeless, offend and go to jail. They are also more likely to suffer from long-term health, emotional and psychological problems and are more likely to divorce. The independent Family Matters Institute reckons the cost of family breakdowns is up to £30billion — more than half what the Government spends on the NHS. Hundreds of fathers desperate to see their children have joined The Sun's Justice For Dads campaign. More than one million children in Britain will not be with their fathers this Christmas. Yesterday four protesters dressed as Santa staged the latest desperate dads´ demo by scaling Tower Bridge in London. SIDEBAR: Children deprived of contact with their natural fathers are more likely to: Live in poverty. Have trouble in school. Suffer bad health. Be sexually abused. Commit crimes. Go to prison. Take drugs. Be unemployed. Earn less money. Devastating cost of this 'family' law NOW tell us your stories. E-mail featurea@the-sun.co.uk or fax 020 7782 4063 © The Sun, London, This material must not be recorded onto video or audio tape, or printed in any form. World wide web use only, and does not include the right for third parties to print-out, copy, photocopy, reproduce or electronically store/scan-in our copyright material without prior permission from News International Syndication Department. |
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